Klitschko cuts loose Ukrainian gets up three times to win

Vladimir Klitschko was floored three times by the big-punching Nigerian Samuel Peter at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, but still survived to score a unanimous points victory and set up a probable world heavyweight title challenge in the new year. But the frailties of the 29-year-old Ukrainian, younger brother of world No1 and World Boxing Council champion Vitali, were vividly exposed by a crude and technically limited fighter.

Vladimir may be the most skilful heavyweight in the sport, but his lack of punch resistance almost let him down once again. Peter, 25, is based in Las Vegas and was being projected as a new heavyweight star. Undefeated in 24 contests, with 21 knockouts, he was a narrow favourite with the bookies, but it was quickly apparent that he only had a puncher's chance against the 6ft 6in Klitschko, who was happy to use his massive reach advantage to keep out of Peter's range while holding and smothering the smaller man at close quarters.

With Emanuel Steward calling the shots in his corner, Klitschko's strategy was working to perfection before he was twice floored in the fifth round; first by a chopping right hand to the side of the head that may have been a "rabbit punch" and then by what appeared to be little more than a push.

Klitschko lost the World Boxing Organisation version of the heavyweight title he had held for three years to the South African Corrie Sanders when he was knocked out in two rounds in 2003 and then was stopped in five rounds last year in another WBO title fight by the American Lamon Brewster. Now, against Peter, the multi-lingual Dr Klitschko appeared to be heading towards a defeat that would have ended his credibility as a world-class fighter.

However, with Steward imploring him to utilise his superior boxing skills, Klitschko was able to recover and re-establish his dominance as above, where he catches Peter with a right in the ninth round, although Peter, forced to absorb sustained punishment, caught the Ukrainian off balance with a hook in the 10th round to send him to the canvas for a third time. A sickening left hook staggered Peter in the final round, but Klitschko was happy to step back and jab his way through the remaining seconds to collect a 114-111 verdict on all three judges' scorecards.

The win installs him as mandatory challenger for the WBO champion Brewster and the current International Boxing Federation title holder Chris Byrd, whom Klitschko beat six years ago. "His experience paid off and the jab was the key," said Steward as Klitschko recorded his 45th win in 48 professional contests. Peter, forced to accept that his lack of basic ability had left him unable to capitalise on the opportunities his power created, had few excuses save for complaints about Klitschko's holding.

In the principal undercard bout, the WBO light-welterwight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, who has been linked with a possible title unification clash against the IBF champion Ricky Hatton, was unimpressive in stopping the lightly regarded Colombian Ricardo Torres in the seventh round.